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Friday, December 30, 2016

This year wasn’t a very
good one for me. I’ve had family situations to deal with and then in November,
I lost my dad, which meant the holidays weren’t very jolly for me. As a result
of all of this stress as well as trying to stay on track with work, my reading
has suffered. However, I am already back reading and have finished one and am reading
another. Reviews will return with the New Year. In thinking about the New Year
and hoping it will bring better times, happier events, and I’m hoping less
stress, I wondered about some of the traditions we associate with it. I’ll bet
you wonder about them too.

December
31st is the last day of the year and as we know it, New Year’s Eve.
It’s a night of celebration for some eager to see the old year go, sadness for
others because it might be saying goodbye to memories of better times, or it
might just be a continuation of the holiday happiness that December brings. I
always try to think of it with optimism, that the New Year will bring more good
times, good health, prosperity, and new adventures. I generally don’t celebrate
it in any particular fashion but do see it as a new beginning.

For
many, it’s a night to throw a party, attend a gathering, toast with champagne,
and exchange good wishes for a Happy New Year. I’m all for that but never seem
to do more than just watch the clock and say, “and so it goes.” How about you?
How do you celebrate?

In
England, when the clock strikes midnight (actually the New Year doesn’t
officially begin until one second later and this year, we have an additional
second added onto 2016 to correct for the rotation of the earth so it will
actually be two seconds after the clock strikes midnight). Well, when it’s
official, all across the UK folks cross their arms over their chests, link hands
with all those nearby, and sing “Auld Lang Syne.” I’ll bet you sing it every
year but never knew what that song was about…did you?

“Auld
Lang Syne” is an old Scottish song first written down in 1780 by Robert Burns. Although,
it was in existence many decades before that, his transcription got the most
attention so it’s most commonly associated with him. “Auld Lang Syne” is from
an old Scottish dialect and translated it means “Times Gone By.” This poem/song
is about love and friendship in times gone by. When we sing about “We’ll take a
cup of kindness yet”, we’re referring to sharing a drink symbolizing
friendship.

In
Scotland, this song is sung but the Scots celebrate the New Year with much more
revelry and drinking, and usually for longer than one night. They celebrate
Hogamany, which traditionally lasts for a day or more into the New Year. Sounds
good to me…a bigger party. Since Christmas had been banned in Scotland for a
very long time and they worked on through the days following the Winter
Solstice, the Scots’ only time to truly celebrate was when the New Year rang
in. So they would ensure their debts were paid, the house cleaned, and when the
clock struck midnight, they’d sing Auld
Lang Syne, and celebrate with drink and merriment…it was and still is one
of the rowdiest New Year’s Eve celebrations in the world. I mean they get really rowdy.

The Scots also
practiced the tradition of the first
footing.

First Footing or the first foot in
the house after midnight is still quite common across Scotland. To ensure good
luck for the house and the family inhabiting it for the New Year, the first
foot should be a dark male. He should bring with him symbolic pieces of coal to
ensure the house be warm, salt and shortbread to ensure the family never go
hungry, and a wee dram of whiskey…well, they are Scots. It’s possible the
preference for a dark male harkens back to the times of the Vikings. After all,
a big blonde stranger arriving at your door with a big axe meant huge trouble
and probably not a very happy New Year.

The
celebrations usually continue through the 2nd of January, which is
an official holiday in Scotland. There are fireworks galore, more drinking, and
merriment to ensure the New Year starts off right. I guess the Scots know how
to do it up right! Happy Hogamany!

Here
in the US, we usually watch the ball descend in Times Square…no matter where we
are or what partying is happening, everyone seems to stop and watch. But where
did that tradition come from? Well, it seems it might have been more about
promoting newspapers than anything else.

Come
Saturday night, millions will watch the most famous New Year's Eve celebration
in the world—the ball drop in Times Square. Well, it seems it was all the idea
of a man named Adolph Ochs, the son of Bavarian Jewish immigrants. After the
European revolutions of the 1840’s, his parents, Julius and Bertha Levy Ochs, immigrated
to the US and lived in Knoxville, Tennessee before the Civil War. As war
approached, they moved to Cincinnati, where Adolph was born, and a few years
later they moved back to Knoxville. At first, all was well, Adolph’s father prospered
as a merchant. They lived in a large house, and Julius Ochs was a prominent
citizen, a justice of the peace, and a leader of the Radical Republican Party. In
fact, he helped found Knoxville's first synagogue, Temple Beth-El. Then came
the economic collapse of 1867, and the Ochses had to move into a cheaper and
much smaller home. The sons had to go to work. Adolph, being the oldest, got a
job with the local Republican newspaper, the Knoxville Chronicle, which was then located on Market Square. He
began as a paperboy, but eventually worked his way up to apprentice printer.

By
the time Adolph was 19, he had done some writing as well as printing, and was now
rather sure he could run a paper himself. At the time, Knoxville was overloaded
with newspapermen but Adolph had heard about a struggling newspaper in
Chattanooga called the Chattanooga Times.
With the help of some investors, he bought it and hired several members of his own
family to come help him run it, including his father. Adolph turned it into a
very successful newspaper.

In
1896, Adolph got wind of another failing newspaper called the New York Times, and it was for sale so
he bought that one too. Using his experience in Knoxville and Chattanooga, Adolph
made it into a very successful newspaper and added features like the book
review and the weekly magazine. He changed the newspaper, and he changed the
map of Manhattan as well. He moved the Times to the intersection of Broadway
and Seventh Avenues, which was a very busy place but not yet famous. He
persuaded the city to give it its own subway stop, and in 1904, Adolph renamed
it Times Square after his newspaper. (Before that, it was locally known as
Longacre Square.)

Now
Adolph Ochs liked the idea of celebrating a holiday in a big public way. He
also liked to promote the Times, and New York so he decided he wanted to
celebrate a holiday that was a holiday for everybody. He picked New Year’s Eve,
and originally celebrated the arrival of midnight with fireworks only that drew
complaints. So he came up with a quieter and more legal way since fireworks
were also banned in New York. In 1907, based on a method of signaling ships in
the harbor, they lowered a giant electrically lit ball along a rooftop mast on
top of One Times Square. In an era when electric lights were still new to the
public, seeing them move was a remarkable sight. Moreover, in the right mood
and on a particular night in December, it still is…

Friday, December 23, 2016

Every child knows about sending a letter to Santa at the North Pole so to be imaginative, I thought I'd take a shot, only I sent mine to Mrs. Claus. I posed the question to her of how she met Santa Claus. I
suppose Mrs. Claus thought me a little girl, but I don’t mind. I’m not sure if
you will get the story included with your gifts from Santa but I already got mine. I thought I’d
share it with everyone…just in case. My gift to you. ~*~

Here's wishing you a very Merry
Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Holidays, and God Bless us all.

A JOYFUL MERRY LOVE

The
day began beautiful, bright, and cheery, as it always did in the small village
nestled among the forests that lay just on the edge of the horizon to the
north. The sky was a clear blue, and the wind warm on Merry Belle’s cheeks as she
set out the baskets of pinecones she and her siblings had gathered the day
before from the floor beneath the great pines that encircled the village.
Laughter filled the air as some of the younger children, three of her siblings
included, danced around the fountain that was the centerpiece of their sweet haven
from the rest of the world.

“Be
sure to set aside a basket for your Aunt Regina,” her mother called out to
Merry from her seat in the wagon in which her father had driven her in from the
forest.

Her
father had already disappeared into his cobbler shop while Merry and three of
her older brothers unloaded the baskets from the bed, and arranged them beneath
the sign that read BELLE’S FINE PINECONES. There were only seven children,
besides herself, left living at home with Lively and Queenie Belle now that the
three eldest, Merry’s brother and two sisters had married. Her sisters, Gay and
Livie, had married men from villages outside the magic so they had moved far away.
Her brother, Reggie, married a local girl named Sprite and since he worked with
their father, they remained nearby. They lived in a small house not far from
the shop.

Merry
sighed with sadness thinking of her sisters so far away. They would only be
allowed to visit when the magic fell which was only once a year. She missed
them very much even with more siblings still around her.

“Mama,
do you want me to take Aunt Regina’s basket to her house?” It was her brother,
Jasper, who called out the request to their mother.

Merry
smiled slyly. She knew the real reason her brother was so eager to walk the
mile into the forest to deliver the basket—Cecelia Claus, their cousin.

“No,
don’t bother, Jasper. Nick is supposed to retrieve it for her. He should be
along soon. Merry, keep an eye on the younglings, please,” Queenie Belle called
out as she turned the reindeer, which pulled the colorful wagon, in the
direction of home.

“Yes,
Mama, I will,” Merry told her mother even as a smile teased the corners of her
mouth and her heart fluttered in her chest. She had hoped that Nick would come
into the village today.

It
had been almost a month since she saw him last and even though she was not
happy with his behavior of late, she was eager for him to see her new
hairstyle. She had woven her long ebony locks into a long braid that nearly
reached her hip and then twirled it around her head with bits of holly sprinkled
throughout the weave. The green of the prickly leaves and red of the berries
highlighted brilliantly against her black hair. She knew the leaves nearly
matched her green eyes and the berries, the red of her lips. Wearing her best apron, the one embroidered with holly leaves, berries, and trimmed with red
bows, over her dark green work dress, she knew she looked quite fetching and
hoped Nicholas Claus thought so too. She hadn’t forgotten how he had been with
that haughty Lavinia Woodhaus before he left for the outside.

“Perhaps
CeCe will come to market with Nick,” Merry remarked over her shoulder as she
piled more perfect pinecones into the display baskets. When Jasper glared at
her, she giggled making him glower even more. “I hear she’s got a new beau.”

“She
does not,” Jasper snapped in return. Then he stopped his work and looked at
Merry, a shadowing cast of despair filling his blue eyes. “She doesn’t, does
she?”

“Lacy
told me that CeCe was worried that her father had picked out a husband for her,
and then I heard from Maggie that a stranger was seen riding in the direction
of the Claus farm.”

Jasper’s
eyes darkened as Merry recounted the gossip that had circulated. She had no
idea if any of it was true and seeing how she had not been to market in almost
a week, the stranger could have been just that—a stranger. She had overheard
her mother and father discussing the topic of Frederick Claus having consulted their
mother about whether or not to arrange a marriage for his only daughter. Merry
knew that her mother would never advise her cousin to arrange a marriage, as she
didn’t believe in it. Even knowing this, Merry couldn’t resist teasing her
brother who was head over heels in love with Cecelia Claus.

“She
wouldn’t. She couldn’t,” Jasper muttered as he stacked the baskets neatly.
Merry suddenly wished she hadn’t told him anything. She hoped CeCe wouldn’t
accept some stranger either. She and Jasper belonged together.

A
commotion beyond the fountain caught Merry’s attention. Glancing to where the
children had been playing, she noticed they had all gathered on the far side of
the fountain. Jasper noticed too, but quickly put his attention back on his
work. Merry sighed knowing he would leave it to her to make sure their younger
siblings stayed out of trouble.

Merry
set down the handfuls of pinecones she was sorting. She wiped her hands on her
apron and started around the display table to inquire as to what had drawn the
children’s attention when she suddenly halted mid-step. Strolling into view as
if he were a celebrity was Nicholas Claus. The children danced and giggled around
him as several of the young women of the village hung on his arms or juggled to
acquire his attention. One in particular, the supercilious Lavinia Woodhaus,
clung to his right arm as if the earth would swallow her if she let go. Merry
wished she would be.

Merry
stepped back behind the display table and smoothed her skirt and apron. She
tried not to look in the group’s direction but couldn’t resist sneaking a peek
from under her dark lashes.

“Jasper,
my good friend and cousin, my sister asked me to relay a message,” Nick called
out as he approached.

Merry
loved the sound of his voice. It was always happy and friendly as if the man
was never in a foul mood. He’d always been that way. As a child found lost in
the forest, he hadn’t shown anything but joy and was happy to find a new home
as a foundling.

Jasper
stepped close to Merry in anticipation of the message Nick had brought him, but
Merry refused to look up. The last time she had seen Nick, he’d nearly
completely ignored her, and then there was that incident. Her brows knitted
together and her jawed tightened remembering what he had done.

It
had occurred just before he left the village during the long day of fallen
magic. This was the only time the villagers could leave or anyone visit their
encapsulated world, and she knew once he was on the other side that it would be
a long time for him whereas it was merely a day for her. Time moved faster
within the magic so Nick would have a month on the outside—a wonderfully long
month that allowed him to experience so much more than she could ever offer
him. She had heard he’d returned days ago yet he made no effort to see her. She
could only assume he was lost to her.

The
children jumped and laughed around the display, and Merry heard Lavinia giggle.
When one of the children bumped the table, Merry’s head snapped up to reprimand
them and send them on their way, but a pair of laughing blue eyes caught her
gaze. Her words suddenly caught tight in her throat.

“Hello
Nick.” Merry cleared her throat to speak those words. She tried to tear her
gaze from his but he refused to look away, and she hadn’t the will to do it
herself.

“So
you have a message from CeCe?” Her brother reminded Nick.

“Ah
yes,” Nick glanced at Jasper as he began, but then his eyes shifted back to
Merry. “She wants you to come by the house for supper tonight. She says father
wishes to speak with you.”

“Me?”
Merry exclaimed with confusion.

Nick
laughed. The sound was joyful, clear, and vibrant sending the women around him
into sighs and giggles. The children, once more, began to dance and laugh. It
was, as if his laugh cast a spell of joy over everyone who heard it.

Lavinia
clung tighter to Nick’s arm and leaned in brushing her voluptuous body against
his. Merry wished to rip the woman’s blond hair from her head. When Lavinia
reached up and brushed dark red curls away from Nick’s forehead with long
slender fingers, Merry nearly leaped across the display table to do just what
she had been thinking.

“Goodness
no, Merry…Jasper, she wants Jasper to come for supper,” Nick announced with a
deep chuckle. “Although, if you’d like to come, I’m sure Mother would be
delighted.”

Merry
curled her hands into fists to keep from slapping the insipid girl.

~*~~*~~*~

Nick
watched Merry closely as Lavinia taunted her. He had no want of the conceited
blonde hanging on his arm or any of the other young women who seemed bent on
attracting his attention. His heart belonged to Merry Belle, but he was lost as
to why she had not come to see him off on his journey to the outside nor
welcomed him home. Even yet, her greeting seemed cold and distant. They had
been the closest of friends growing up. He was only a few years her senior, how
many was unknown for he’d never know his exact age. His father had approximated
that he was perhaps four or five years of age when Frederick Claus found him wandering
the great pine forests surrounding the village. His adopted parents had
surmised the fallen magic caught him inside while wandering the forest. Nick
was happy with his life and his family here so never felt the need to search for his
real family, if he even had one. As a young boy, he had eagerly awaited the day
he might proclaim his desire to make Merry Belle his wife and now that he was a
grown man, he was at a loss as to what to do.

Lavinia
leaned against him, her soft breasts caressing his arm. He wanted to pull away
but when he saw a crease form between Merry’s delicate brows and her hands
clench into fists, he knew that Lavinia’s behavior bothered her. He smiled with
a great happiness lifting his heart. Perhaps she did care. Was she jealous?

“I
think it best you not attend, Lavinia. As I told Jasper, my father wishes to
speak with him so it’s best it is only family in attendance,” Nick remarked
casually to his companion not removing his gaze from Merry. He saw one of
Merry’s sweet dimples appear in her cheek as she turned her head away. She was
smiling. She was glad he had not invited Lavinia to supper. “Perhaps we’ll have
supper another time, my dear beauty.”

Nick
nearly burst out laughing when he saw Merry crush a pinecone in her hand as he
added the provoking remark. She was jealous—yes indeed, she was.

“So
how was your time outside the magic, Nick?” Jasper nudged Merry’s side as he
kicked the crushed pieces of pinecone under the table. She glared at him as if
she wished to crush him for asking such a question.

“It
was very interesting, very interesting indeed,” Nick remarked as he watched
Merry from the corner of his eye.

“Oh,
do tell us, Nick darling! Did you meet a lot of fine ladies?” Lavinia’s voice
was all sugary as if she was some delicate thing that needed someone to hold
her up which Nick was beginning to think she might actually require.

His
arm was beginning to go numb from the tight hold she had on it. He decided it
was time to cut her loose. He unfurled her fingers from his arm and pushed away
to sit on the display table inches from Merry. He could smell her scent, which
was unique to her alone. She always smelled of sugar cookies and vanilla. Nick
loved the way her scent seemed to surround him when he got close. He wanted to
taste her all over to see if she tasted as good as she smelled.

He
picked up a pinecone and tossed it casually as he leaned back on one elbow on
the table. He glanced over his shoulder when Merry snatched the pinecone from
the air and placed it on the top of a neatly stacked pile. He smiled at her,
but received a frown in return.

“I
did meet lots of fine ladies but none were as fine as those I know here,” Nick
explained removing his gaze from Lavinia and her friends to the beautiful girl
with shining black hair. The girl with bright green eyes that always reminded
him of the rich fresh forest, pale creamy skin, round cheeks that always
carried a hint of pink high on them and contained dimples that made his heart
soar when she smiled. Her mouth was usually a pucker of pink like the softest
petals of wildflowers but today, they were the color of delicious berries, and
he dreamed of kissing those lips again. He’d kissed her once a few months ago,
but not since. Was she perhaps angry with him over the stolen kiss? He’d
thought she’d enjoyed it at the time for she had leaned into it and had
definitely returned it, or had that been his imagination or wishful thought.

“I’m
sure they wear much finer clothes than we do,” Lavinia said with moan pushing
out her lower lip in a mock pout.

Lavinia
Woodhaus was the daughter of the mayor. She wanted for nothing and always wore
the newest fashions for her father journeyed to the other side of the magic
every year to make sure she had only the best. Nick had traveled with the mayor
to the other side this year. His hope was to find a way to allow others to
travel through the magic even when it wasn’t fallen.

He
had discovered that for him, it mattered not whether the magic was fallen or
not. Nick was able to pass through at any time. He had suspected it a while, for about
six months earlier, he had stumbled over a log and fell against the boundary. When he did, his arm had passed through it. He had been fearful to try passing through
alone for fear that he might not be able to come back so when he passed through
with Mayor Woodhaus and it was time to return, he grabbed the man’s arm and
stepped back through to the outside world. He was able to do so without
problem, and then was able to step back through into their magic bubble, even
though the magic had returned.

“Oh,
they are fine and they are beautiful but I prefer something more familiar,
something sweet and familiar.” Nick glanced at Merry. She was staring at him
with an odd expression. She cocked her head and the tip of her tongue appeared
to wet her lips, but then quickly disappeared. Was she remembering the kiss?
He’d told her she tasted sweet and familiar after he’d kissed her.

“I’m
sweet and very familiar,” Lavinia said seductively as she stepped forward and
ran her fingers through his hair.

“Lavinia
Woodhaus, you’re acting so common!”

Nick
was taken aback to hear such a chiding exclamation from Merry Belle. She never
raised her voice at anyone, not even when the children needed reprimanding. She
had been silent ever since he spoke to her about CeCe’s message and now
suddenly, she was scolding the mayor’s daughter. Oh yes, she was jealous, he
realized with happy joy. He repressed the smile that teased the corners of his mouth.

“How
dare you, Merry Belle? You’ve no business speaking to me that way,” Lavinia snapped then whined as she stepped close to Nick. “Nick, darling, are you going to let this…this
pinecone seller speak to me…your dearest…that way?”

Nick
heard Merry expel a pained gasp. He saw her eyes sparkle with tears before she
dipped her head. She didn’t really believe there was anything between him and
Lavinia, did she? He watched her shoulders fall as she stepped away from the
display table, her hands clenching her finely embroidered apron. Before he
could speak, she murmured something to Jasper who was staring at him with the
look of a brother who was about to defend his sister. Merry moved away and
disappeared behind the screen that blocked out the back of the stall.

“Jasper?”
Nick was truly confused. He hadn’t meant to hurt Merry by his flirtations with
Lavinia, but it was obvious he had.

Jasper
shook his head and looked away.

“Come
to the tavern with us, Nick,” Lavinia cooed near his ear.

He
looked at her. She cared not that she had insulted Merry or that she really was
acting quite common. He never should have flirted with the woman. He’d made a
grave mistake.

Nick
pulled away and hopped off the table. Without looking directly at Lavinia, he
pushed past her to round the table.

“Not
right now, Lavinia,” Nick told her.

He
needn’t look back at her to know she was staring after him with a shocked expression.
No one refused Lavinia Woodhaus anything.

~*~~*~~*~

Tears
streamed down Merry’s face like a heavy rain and she could do nothing to stop
them. It was all she could do to swallow down the sobs that threatened to
explode from her chest. She wiped at her face with her apron. Her heart was
aching, her lungs burned with the pain of loss and sadness that overwhelmed
her. Therefore, Lavinia Woodhaus was
something special to Nick. The kiss that Merry had seen them exchange the night
before he went outside, was more than a flirtation, it was affection.

“Merry?”
The sound of Nick’s voice behind her caused her breath to catch and her back to
tense. She wished the earth would open and swallow her quickly before she
embarrassed herself more than she already had. She refused to turn to look at him.

“Go
away.” The sound of her own voice was a shadow of the depth of despair she was
feeling.

Strong
hands gripped her shoulders and her immediate reaction was to shrug them off
and move away, but Nick didn’t allow it. He spun her to face him but she lowered
her head so as not to see his face or allow him to see hers.

“What
is this all about, my sweet?” His voice was gentle and worried.

Merry
felt a clutch in her gut as a sob boiled up, and out, before she could stop it.
Her tears flowed once more. Nick pulled her close and she allowed him. He
wrapped his strong arms around her as she pressed her wet face to his
beautifully embroidered waistcoat. She loved the waistcoat he’d worn today. It
was why she’d chosen the ensemble she had. He was dressed in his forest green embroidered
with vines and edelweiss blooms. His black pants and polished black boots were
the perfect accompaniments and the white linen blouse beneath the waistcoat was
like snow in the forest against the dark green. He wore no cravat today but
left his collar open, and now as she peeked out from under spiked lashes, she
spied soft curls she knew were red like the curls on his head. His scent of
pine and cherry wood tobacco filled her stuffy nose and calmed her sobs. When
his hand stroked the curve of her skull, she sighed and inhaled trying to halt
her tears. It wasn’t his fault, after all, that she was so desperately in love
with him. If he chose another, she must resolve herself to it.

“Are
you still angry with me over the kiss?”

Merry
pushed away from Nick’s broad chest and looked up at him through wet eyes.

“So
you knew I was there and kissed her anyway? Oh heavens, it’s true then. You
love Lavinia Woodhaus over me!” She wrested herself from his embrace and pulled
her apron up to her face to wipe her tears even as more replaced them.

“What?
Me…love Lavinia? Merry, have you lost your senses?”

“If
not, then why did you kiss her? I saw you—” Merry snuffed and wiped her tears.
Why did Nick act as if her accusation was so incredulous? “You kissed her. She
was in your lap, for goodness sake, that night in the tavern.” She drew in a
deep breath to calm her shaking. “I came to plead with you not to go outside, and
there you were with her on your lap.
Her arms around your shoulders, and then you kissed her.”

Nick’s
sudden deep chuckle sparked anger in Merry and she turned on him with a stern
glare. He immediately stopped then raised his hand to stroke away the tears
from her cheek.

“I
didn’t kiss Lavinia. She kissed me. Why did you wish me not to go?” Nick drew
the pad of his thumb along her cheek and then her lower lip.

Merry
narrowed her eyes at him but he refused to stop touching her. Had she been more
like Lavinia, she might have struck his cheek for acting such the Lothario.

“She
kissed you? What’s the difference?” Now it was her turn to stare at him
incredulously.

Nick
chuckled again, this time the sound was low in his chest and subtle as if only
for her ears. “There’s a big difference. I did not ask for the kiss nor respond
to it. Lavinia has made a show of blatant flirtations with me in your presence
ever since I told her she held no interest for me, and that you were the only
one I wished at my side.”

Merry
sniffled and wished with all her desire to blow her nose. Had he really told
Lavinia that it was she, he wanted? Her heart soared for a moment but suspicion
still plagued her. “You told her that? When?”

“About
a week before I went to the outside.” Nick pulled a handkerchief from the
pocket of his waistcoat and pressed it to her nose.

Merry
took the cloth, turned to the side and blew her nose, embarrassingly. When she
turned back, Nick was smiling at her. His eyes twinkled with delight as he
tilted his head slightly at her.

“So
you saw that, huh? I’m sorry, dearest, really I am. It meant nothing and Lavinia
knows it. She must have seen you there and played her trump in hopes of warding
you off which seems to have worked, for I was sorely disappointed you didn’t
see me off or greet me upon my return.”

“I
suppose I will have to forgive you for being such a ninny. You should have
confronted me then, instead of stewing in your imaginings,” Nick murmured close
to her ear, the scent of cherry tobacco in his soft curls filling her clearing
nostrils. Before she could respond to his teasing retort, he posed a more
disturbing query. “Now, tell me please why you had planned to beg me not to go
to the outside?”

Abruptly,
guilt and a sense of selfishness that she knew Nick would abhor filled her, and
made her once more wish the earth would open and swallow her. With him standing
so close, his lips so close to her cheek and his hand resting along her neck,
she was barely able to breathe much less think, and now berated herself for
mentioning it at all. She had no right to request him stay or leave. He was a
free man with a will not easily bent to anyone’s way. He’d always been stubborn
and headstrong since childhood.

“It
doesn’t matter since you’ve already gone.” Merry refused to lift her gaze to
meet his, even as he attempted to tilt her head using his fingers beneath her
chin.

“Did
you fear I wouldn’t come back?”

Merry’s
gaze lifted without forethought. He was staring at her with a look that stole
her breath. His bright blue eyes had darkened, not with anger, but with
something else. Something wonderful that made her insides jumble and her skin
tingle. The same kind of look he’d worn, that day in the forest, just before he
kissed her. She recalled how she had wished for more, wanted more, and since,
dreamed of more.

“I
must admit I did fear you wouldn’t come back. I thought once you experienced the
world outside the magic that you would want more, and seek it there. Perhaps
some round-eared beauty,” Merry admitted blinking to keep back the tears that
once more threatened to flow.

Nick
chuckled deep in his chest. “You also believed I wanted Lavinia. I believe you
should stop assuming and talk to me instead. Besides, you’ve got the most
beautiful pointed ears of any elf I know.” He winked at her as he stroked her
cheek gently then smoothed her hair back behind her ear. Merry couldn’t resist
a smile. “I admit I enjoyed my time outside but there is much sadness in that
world. Children who go without joy and who must work instead of play. I wish to
do something more for the children of the world. It was something I hoped to speak
about with you.”

“Me?
Why me? Why not my father, or brothers instead?”

“Because
you will be an important part of what I plan—I hope anyway,” Nick said in a
low, deep voice that sent shivers over her skin. He leaned in close, pressing
his forehead to Merry’s. She felt the silkiness of his curls against her skin
and her heart skipped a beat. Before she could speak to his curious statement,
Nick pressed a sweet kiss to her lips. “If you wish it that is, Merry Belle.”

Just
then, the bell in the town square rang out. Nick stepped back and took hold of
her hand.

“Come
Merry, I’ve something to announce to everyone,” Nick exclaimed with excitement
in his voice, and his eyes.

Merry
followed along, her hand snug in Nick’s strong warm hand. She wiped at her
face drying the tears that had flowed only a moment earlier and now hoped her
eyes weren’t red and swollen.

“Ah,
here he is! Come Nicholas,” Mayor Woodhaus called out from the platform where
the bell holder stood.

This
central place was where the villagers gathered to hear any, and all,
announcements made in the village. As they reached the spot, Nick turned to
Merry, raised her hand still clutched in his and pressed a kiss to her
knuckles. He smiled at her, released her hand, and stepped up alongside the
Mayor.

Some
of Merry’s girlfriends squeezed in alongside and whispered curiously about
Nick’s public display but Merry ignored them, her eyes on Nick’s handsome face.

“My
dear friends, as you know I traveled outside with the honorable
Mayor Woodhaus during the last fall of the magic. I discovered there are low
times in the outside world. Great sadness exists. There’s a general lack of
joy, and the children of the world seemed to have lost their childhood. I also
discovered something wonderful about myself. It seems that I am able to move
back and forth through the magic with very little effort. I’ve spoken with the
Mayor and several of the village leaders, and have devised a plan to spread
some joy throughout the world while bringing out the child in all, but I will
need your help.” Nick spoke to the group with strength and determination.

Pride
filled Merry’s chest as she watched him command their attention. She had no
idea what it was all about, but if he wanted her to be a part of it she was more
than willing.

“We
are a people of joy, laughter, love, and hard work.” A cheer went up in
response to Nick’s remark and he paused with laughter on his lips. “We have
toymakers a plenty and very few markets except when the magic falls.” The group
groaned their agreement. “Ah, my friends, but the outside world has little in
the way of amusement and so I wish to spread our joy, and our gifts to the
world.”

“How
do you plan to do that, Nick Claus?” one of the merchants called out from the
crowd.

“As
I said, I can move back and forth through the magic whenever I wish,” Nick
explained as he moved to speak to one side of the group and then to the other,
always stopping to stand before Merry. His gaze capturing hers each time he
paused. “I plan to gather some of your goods and carry them through the magic
and share them amidst the people of the outside. I feel that once they discover
the joy that your beautiful wares bring to their lives that they will soon be
clamoring for your merchandise.”

As
if it took a moment, for the thought to sink in then suddenly become clear,
silence filled the air before murmurs began to rise from the group followed by
cheers and applause. Mayor Woodhaus stepped up beside Nick and patted him on
the shoulder in approval.

Nick
raised his hands to quiet the crowd.

“My
hope is that with travel back and forth, eventually I’ll discover a means for
everyone to travel without waiting for the magic to fall but in the meantime,
we will make do.” Another cheer went up. “I have another announcement, if you
will bear with me.”

The
crowd quieted once more. Nick’s gaze shifted to Merry and he held out his hand
toward her. Merry felt every eye in the crowd settle on her and she had the
sudden urge to crawl away.

This
time, Merry accepted it and stepped onto the platform. She was nervous and
refused to look out over the crowd of friends and family who had gathered even
though she knew every face by name. Nick took both of her hands in his
and turned to face her.

“You
think I want more. You think I want another or someone with rounded ears. I
want only you, Merry Belle.” A unified gasp went up from every young female in
the crowd. Merry was unable to resist a peek at Lavinia who was scowling with
anger.

With
great grandeur, Nick took a step back, dropped to one knee and gazed up at
Merry. A cheer rose from the crowd watching. Heat rose in Merry’s cheeks and
her hands shook in Nick’s fingers. She was excited and mortified at the same
time that he was making such a public spectacle of them.

“My
life is here, Merry Belle. My heart is here with you and I only want you,
desire you, love only you, and know that my life is not complete without you,”
Nick proclaimed in a voice that was not overly loud but with such a loud silence
surrounding them, Merry was sure that even the fish in the river were able to
hear his words. “Will you do me the great and joyful honor of becoming my wife,
and partner in this grand adventure?”

Merry
stared down into the brightest blue eyes currently twinkling with anticipation.
Her heart soared, her breath seized in her chest, and her knees trembled.
Unable to speak, she nodded her head, then released his hands and threw her
arms around his shoulders and pressed her mouth to his in a powerful kiss. The crowd
erupted in cheers of joy and congratulations. Nick gathered her in his arms and
pulled himself to his feet. Merry was where she had always dreamed of being and
wished to be nowhere else at that moment. Nick pulled his mouth away from hers
and chuckled.

“You
kissed me, Merry, my love,” Nick whispered near her lips. “Now do you see the
difference?”

“Oh
yes, Nick, I see...” Merry laughed happily, as he kissed the tip of her nose. “Only you
kissed me in return.”

“Aye,
I did.”

“As
long as you always do, my dearest, for I love you so,” Merry exclaimed before
pressing her mouth to his again.

Nick
returned her kiss and took over. The noise of the crowd, the cheers and good
wishes being showered on them faded away as the passion of the moment enclosed
them in their own kind of magic.

Merry
Belle and Nicholas Claus were married two weeks later in a wonderful
celebration to which everyone attended including the very unhappy Lavinia
Woodhaus. Three months later, Nick loaded up an ornate wagon filled with goods
from the village and led by reindeer, passed through the magic and returned one
day later with an empty wagon. When asked how it went, he recounted how no one
seemed interested and refused to spend good money on toys for their children so
Nick decided to make sure the youngsters enjoyed the fruits of the village’s
labors. He left enough toys, dolls, and wreaths at each home in the surrounding
villages to whet their appetites. Before he left, he had peeked in a few
windows to see the joy on the children’s faces and befuddled expressions of the
adults. He wasn’t sure if their enterprise would succeed but he glowed with the
delight of bestowing the beautiful items upon the families, and seeing the
children once more playing as children should.

The
village leaders spoke among themselves and decided that what Nick had done was
spectacular. They decided that rather than sell the items to the outside world,
the village goods would forever be gifts to ensure joy and playfulness always
exist in the world.

Nick
eventually discovered a means of taking one or two of the villagers with him on
his trips. As long as they were touching him, they could pass through just as
the sleigh he had built to accommodate the many toys and goodies could, as well
as the reindeer needed to pull it. Nick was able to broaden his expanse of
delivering using the time movement differences between the two worlds but a
strange thing happened after a few journeys through the magic. It began to snow
in their magical world—a beautiful snow of pure white crystals that never
melted nor increased. The air temperature stayed mild and comfortable but the
entire village and surrounding forests stayed draped in beautiful sparkling
white.

Merry
believed it was a reflection of Nick’s purest intentions and his love for all—especially
children. Nick knew it was because of the love he had for his Merry Claus, and
her willingness to allow him to travel to the world outside the magic to bring
joy and happiness to those less fortunate than he was. He knew it was also a result
of his being blessed by the kindness and generosity of the magical villagers
who shared their lives with a little lost round-eared boy found in the forest so long ago.

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

A
Cherry Blooms – On the fourth day of December, which is Saint Barbara’s Day, young
women place a single cherry twig in a glass of water. If it blooms before
Christmas Eve then good luck and a marriage are likely to follow.

FINLAND

Molten
Tins – On New Year’s Day, folks gather to pour molten tin into buckets of icy
cold water. As the tin cools, the resulting shapes made are used to predict the
future. Of course, hearts and rings are the most hoped for shapes by those
looking for love.

ITALY

Looking
for Good Luck – Men and women looking for good luck in the coming year and
perhaps just to get lucky, wear red underpants on New Year’s Eve. As our
mothers always reminded us…make sure they’re clean and no holes.

MEXICO

The
Night of the Radishes – On the 23rd of December, in the city of Oaxaca,
families come together to carve nativity figures out of none other than the
humble little radish. The finest of the carvings are put on display in the town
square.

PORTUGAL

Gone
but Never Forgotten – During Consoada, the traditional Christmas Eve feast, an
extra seat is placed at the family’s table so that the spirits of the departed
can join in the festivities. There are similar traditions around the world.
Some leave the seat open for the baby Jesus.

SWEDEN

An
Almond in the Pudding – A creamy rice pudding dessert called Ris à la Malta is
traditionally served at the Christmas feast. An almond is hidden within the
pudding and the one who finds it in their bowl shall marry within the year.

UKRAINE

A
Spider’s Kindness – An old folk tale tells the story of a poor widow and
children who could not afford decorations for their Christmas tree. The mother
and children sadly went to bed and fell asleep. Early the next morning, they
woke to find the tree covered with cobwebs. When they opened the windows,
the first rays of sunlight touched the webs and turned them into gold and
silver. The widow and her children were overjoyed. From then on, they never
lived in poverty again. Today, trees are decorated with ornaments resembling
spider webs and an artificial spider is sometimes hidden within the branches
for good luck.
More consistent traditions such as a 12-course meal, each dish representing a
disciple of Jesus, and carols being sung following the meal also continue
today.

UNITED
KINGDOM

A
Kiss Beneath the Mistletoe – the tradition of hanging mistletoe dates back to
the Druids. A symbol of fertility because mistletoe remains green in winter and
bears fruit in the form of berries, receiving a kiss a beneath it from a
suitor, lover, or spouse ensured a happy relationship. Popularized in 18th
Century England, the magic of the mistletoe continues a Christmas tradition
even today.

UNITED
STATES

King
Cakes – Usually associated with New Orleans and the Mardi Gras celebrations
there, many Americans now celebrate with King Cakes. In celebration of the
Feast of the Epiphany or Twelfth Night when it’s said the three wise men
visited the baby Jesus, a tiny baby figure is baked inside the cake and the
person who finds it in their slice is promised good luck and is named ‘king’ or
‘queen’ for the rest of the party. It also becomes their duty to bring the next
King Cake.

WORLDWIDE

A
New Year’s Kiss – I don’t think anyone really knows how this tradition began
but do we really care since it’s one of the most anticipated events of the
holidays for when the clock strikes twelve and the New Year rings in, couples
around the world share a kiss.

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

I
wish to apologize for not having been very active with reviews or much else
lately. I’ve had a lot of family issues keeping me busy and not giving me the
time I need to keep up with my reading for reviews. I’m hoping to get back on
track again in the next few weeks. I want to thank you for still coming by, and
for faithfully following when I’ve only had a few things to share with you.

The
past couple of months have been difficult and the upcoming holidays will most
likely not see as much good cheer as holidays of the past. However, I do wish
to express my gratitude to you all and to count among my blessings the
wonderful people I’ve met through my years doing this blog. Without you, my
life would not be as full as it is and so this Thanksgiving, my readers are at
the top of my ‘what I am thankful for’ list.

10 Fun Facts About Thanksgiving

**maybe armed with
these, you can prevent any discussions of politics**

1. Leaving
a legacy—when Abe Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday, it was
thanks to the tireless efforts of a magazine editor named Sarah Josepha Hale –
who also wrote the nursery rhyme, "Mary had a Little Lamb."

2. Born
in the U.S.A.—but Thanksgiving is not just an American holiday. Canadians
celebrate it too, except they do it the second Monday in October.

3.
Have it your way—if Ben Franklin had had his way, the turkey would be our
national bird. An eagle, he had written in a letter to his daughter, had
"bad moral character." A turkey, on the other hand, was a "much more respectable bird."

5.
And to make it worse, they are doomed from birth—those poor turkeys just don't
stand a chance. Just look at the name we give them. A turkey less than
12-weeks-old is called a fryer-roaster.

6.
Ever wonder why this succulent dinner bird is even called a turkey? Well, it
seems the Europeans took a liking to the guinea fowls imported to the continent,
and since the birds were imported by Turkish merchants, the English called
them turkeys. Later, when the Spaniards came to America, they found a bird that
tasted like those guinea fowls. Consequently, when they were sent to Europe,
the English called these birds "turkeys" as well.

7.
There are four places in the U.S. named Turkey. Louisiana's Turkey Creek is the
most populous, with a whopping 440 residents. There's also Turkey, Texas;
Turkey, North Carolina; and Turkey Creek, Arizona. Oh, let's not forget the two
townships in Pennsylvania—the creatively named Upper Turkeyfoot and Lower
Turkeyfoot!

8. Going
shopping for all the big sales? Well, if you’re a plumber you probably won’t
be. Black Friday is the busiest day of the year for them, according to
Roto-Rooter, the nation's largest plumbing service. After all, someone has to
clean up after household guests who "overwhelm the system."

9.
A tradition is born— TV dinners have Thanksgiving to thank. In 1953, someone at
Swanson misjudged the number of frozen turkeys it would sell that Thanksgiving
-- by 26 TONS! Some industrious soul came up with a brilliant plan: Why not
slice up the meat and repackage with some trimmings on the side. Thus, the
first TV dinner was born!

10.
Finally, something truly unique to add to your trivia list—in 2013, the first
day of Hanukkah and Thanksgiving came together for
the first time since 1888. Scientists say the confluence won't occur again
for another 70,000 years, give or take a millennium.

And Some Funnies because what would Thanksgiving be, without a few laughs.

Monday, November 21, 2016

A newly awakened Dracones, with tenuous control of his
powers, Samarias barely survived her the first time. Now she’s back.

Coldly rejected by Hellfire, his soul mate, Sami struggles
with a reason to live. He finds that reason after rescuing one of the very
special and rare Genesis Dracones. With an unexpected second chance at
happiness, he’s determined to make it work.

An unforgivable betrayal has pushed Hellfire, a fiery
Phoenix, to stand alone against the world. She vows never to allow a man into
her heart again. Not even one who makes her knees weak, and her heart pound
like thunder.

Only now, her baby sister is in danger and Hellfire is
frantic to rescue her. With no other choice, she seeks assistance from the only
male who can help them. The same one she heartlessly tossed away. Sami. Knowing
she may lose her sister is heartbreaking enough, but is it possible she’ll lose
more than that to the man who wants to claim her heart?

Get Dracones
Betrayed now—a dark steamy tale of love, hate, betrayal, and broken promises
that will tie you to your seat as it sweeps you into the magical world of
Tartaria. For ages 17+

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I was the editor
on this amazing story and so ethically cannot review it, but let me just say
this about it. Sheri-Lynn Marean conjures an amazing other world
while pulling the reader deeper into the mysteries and secrets surrounding the
fabulous cast of characters in DRACONES - BETRAYED…her best installment yet.

If you haven’t
tried out this amazing debut series…give it a try. Her stories are getting
better and better, and I’m so proud to be her editor and experience them first.

Happy Reading
Everyone!

About the Author:

Born
in Scarborough Ontario, Canada, Sheri-Lynn has lived in many different places.
The main ones being Toronto, Montreal, London Ontario, Alabama, Texas, &
Alberta. Sheri-Lynn now resides in British Columbia, Canada with her husband,
three kids, one dog, three cats, & numerous chickens. Sheri-Lynn never
imagined she'd one day be an author. Instead, she grew up riding and working
with racehorses, drawing and selling animal artwork and of course, reading.
Sheri-Lynn fell in love with reading at age twelve when she read The Black
Stallion series by Walter Farley. She has not stopped reading since. With a
wide variety of reading interests, Sheri-Lynn’s passion presently is the
paranormal romance genre. One day, after reading an unsatisfying book, she
decided to write her own book, with her own characters, doing what she wanted
them to do. She began to type and the characters came to life in her head. She
has never looked back.

About Me

I am a lover of all things literature but there is a special place in my heart for Romance Novels of all sorts. Yes, I am proud to proclaim that I read Romance Novels. Some day, I hope to proclaim, that in addition to being a reader of romance, that I am an author of romance as well.

I love Unwrapping Romance, Romance Novels and their Authors - 60 million readers can't be wrong!

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